In Tunisia, following controversial remarks on sub-Saharan migrants on Tuesday February 21, President Kaïs Saïed expressed himself, this time in a video during a meeting with his Minister of the Interior, Thursday evening, declaring that those who equated his remarks with racism “ were lying » and that they « were trying to harm Tunisia’s relationship with other African countries “. President Kaïs Saïed reiterated that the law must be applied for those who are there illegally in the country and that sub-Saharan migrants present legally are welcome. But in reality, sub-Saharan students and many migrants say they have had fear in their stomachs for a few days and no longer want to leave their homes, for fear of reprisals. All testified anonymously for this report.
With our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise
Two days after Kaïs Saïed’s remarks on the urgent measures to be taken to fight against the irregular immigration of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, the police took action. A Cameroonian living in Sfax in the east of the country testifies to the situation: “ We will say that it is the calm before the storm, people are cloistered at home. I have received feedback that the police are arresting migrants in their place of work, so that’s the atmosphere here in Sfax. »
Evictions
In Tunis, several testimonies mention sub-Saharan migrants and students who are expelled from their homes, as experienced by a Comorian student: “ Last night, I was going home and there, I ran into my landlord who told me that I had to do my business and leave and that I had a week to sort it all out. I was so shocked, I asked him why and then he explained to me that it was the police who demanded that he kick me out of the house knowing that I was a student; I have the documents. »
fear of aggression
A Congolese student confides that many are afraid of being attacked in the street: “ Arrests are often systematic and arbitrary, just on the “facial level”. And, beyond the arbitrary arrests, we also see an anti-sub-Saharan sentiment taking hold in the streets, via social networks. We fear the worst “. In response to this anxiety-provoking climate, Tunisian civil society decided to organize a demonstration – Saturday February 25 – against racism.
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